One of the 19th century's preeminent composers and one of its most polarizing musical figures, Johannes Brahms (1833–1897) was widely hailed in his own time as Beethoven's true successor, but his open disdain for program music set him in opposition to the followers of Liszt and Wagner. Pianist John Bell Young closely guides the listener through a diverse selection of Brahms's works, culminating in a discussion of the German Requiem, and his thoughtful commentary considers various aspects of the composer's life, including the views of his peers and his complex relationships with women. The accompanying audio CD features ten works and movements, including rare performances by Wilhelm Furtwängler.